What do Taco Bell and Dolce & Gabbana have in common (aside from impeccable taste, of course)? They’ve both fully embraced the NFT craze and adopted it as a marketing tool.
Whether or not NFTs are here to stay remains to be seen. But we do know that companies of all sizes are implementing them into their strategy and seeing incredible results. The only roadblock is that many people are still uninformed about NFTs and how to use them.
That’s why NFT influencers and NFT influencer marketing are so valuable for brands looking to break into the space. Partnering with NFT creators gives you a team of crypto experts at your fingertips and allows brands to reach a new crop of consumers who are on the hunt for the next big thing.
What is crypto?
Cryptocurrency—or crypto—is a virtual currency designed to exchange goods or services and make payments. The two most popular forms of cryptocurrency are Bitcoin and Ethereum, but there are thousands of others.
Crypto is decentralized and free from third-party interference, which means it is never issued or controlled by any government or central authorities. Basically, cryptocurrency is digital money you can send to anyone, at any time, from anywhere, without going through a bank.
What is an NFT?
NFT stands for non-fungible token. Non-fungible means it is one-of-a-kind—or extremely limited, at the very least. In other words, there can be just one NFT, just like how there can only be one original Mona Lisa. Or there can be a limited number of NFTs, like a highly collectible baseball card.
Each NFT is a digital representation of a real-world object like art, music, or video. These tokens are generally bought and sold online with cryptocurrency. An NFT is “minted” from a wide variety of objects like:
- Art
- GIFs
- Sports highlights
- Collectibles
- Avatars and video game skins
- Sneakers
- Music
The price of an NFT depends entirely on what someone is willing to pay for it. Some of the cheapest NFTs go for only a few dollars, while the most expensive token to date sold for $91.8 million.
What is an NFT/crypto influencer?
Most crypto and NFT influencers are experienced traders who create content about cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens. Many of these creators are skilled at breaking down complex topics in ways that even the most inexperienced viewer can understand. They also offer trading tips on up-and-coming coins and tokens and keep their audiences up to speed on all the latest crypto trends.
Other NFT influencers are the artists who create the tokens sold online. Many were already accomplished digital artists even before the NFT boom and now offer their audience a look into their creative process and tease upcoming releases.
What are the benefits of partnering with NFT creators?
Any brand looking to get into NFTs should consider partnering with NFT influencers. Because there is still so much confusion surrounding NFTs and crypto, these creators can make consumers feel comfortable navigating the crypto landscape and use their expertise to help guide purchasing decisions.
Many NFT creators will tell you that an NFT is only as good as the community around it. If there isn’t a solid team in place helping to grow the project, the NFT isn’t worth investing in. Instead, buyers should find an NFT with a great story behind it and a team with a mission they can connect with.
A sense of community is also important for brands looking for creator partners. If a creator has built a community that trusts them on something as important as where to invest their money, you can bet the audience will pay full attention when that creator starts talking about your brand.
How brands can get involved with NFTs
Companies of all sizes are beginning to incorporate NFTs into their crypto influencer marketing strategy. Some use NFTs to help give back to the community, while others use the trend to tell their brand story and open new revenue streams. Regardless of their goals, brands use NFTs to expand their reach and captivate new audiences.
Gucci is one of many brands having success with NFTs. In June 2021, the company minted a token from a four-minute film that accompanied one of its runway shows. The NFT went up for sale at an online auction hosted by Christie’s and brought in more than $25,000. Gucci donated the item’s proceeds to UNICEF USA to support the nonprofit’s COVAX initiative.
One of the more interesting ways brands can use NFTs is by offering the token as a ticket to an exclusive event. For example, influencer GaryVee sells pieces of his NFT collection to traders who then become “VeeFriends.” That status automatically grants them entry to VeeCon—a conference focused on business, marketing, and creative ideas. The tokens can be sold at any time, transferring VeeCon “tickets” to the new buyer.
Brands incorporating NFT influencer marketing strategies
1. Red Bull Racing
@cryptocomix probably nothing ???? #tezos #redbull #formula1 #crypto #add ♬ Guitar Jazz instrumental – Easy Listening Jazz Instrumentals
Red Bull Racing released a 10,000-piece NFT collection ahead of the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix. The tokens promoted driver Sergio Perez and his first race in his native Mexico as a brand-sponsored racer. Red Bull Racing CEO Christian Horner said the company released the NFTs in an attempt to remain “at the forefront of innovation and technology, both on and off the track.”
Red Bull partnered with several crypto and NFT creators to help get the word out about the new release and encourage their followers to invest in some of the limited tokens.
2. Mint
Mint is a personal finance management website and mobile app for users in the US and Canada. It partners with crypto and NFT influencers who post reviews and tutorials on how the app allows them to track all their finances over a period of time. Because money is constantly coming and going from their accounts, crypto and NFT creators are the perfect partners to show all of the platform’s capabilities.
3. BlockFi
BlockFi is a crypto exchange and wallet. Because most experienced crypto and NTF traders already have a wallet of choice, BlockFi partners with creators who cater to a more inexperienced base. Creators post a link in their bio that offers $250 in Bitcoin to new traders. This allows BlockFi to track which creators bring in the most new customers and attribute sales accordingly.
Top 15 biggest NFT influencers on social media
Top 5 NFT creators on TikTok
1. Crypto Cita
@cryptocita #stitch @Coinbase Is the future of money already here? #Crypto #Bitcoin #Blockchain #Cryptocita ♬ Cochise X Playboi Carti Beat – Staysee
Crypto Cita is one of TokTok’s fastest-growing names in the crypto space. With more than 700,000 followers on the platform, she mixes humor with educational videos for investors of any skill or experience level.
You can also follow Crypto Cita on Instagram.
2. Greg Mike
@gregmike Hold your breath on 3…2…1 #gregmike #wip #art #outlines #painting ♬ Cotton Candy – Jazzinuf
Greg Mike is a digital artist responsible for the MAD CAN NFT series. The Atlanta native uses his TikTok channel to give his audience a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process and show off some of his latest works.
You can also follow Greg Mike on Instagram.
3. TheNiFTyInvestor
@theniftyinvestor ♬ Epic Music(873721) – Pavel
TheNiFTyInvestor has crypto content from beginner tips to expert predictions. He is known best for his in-depth analysis of companies and projects and his takes on current events and their impact on markets.
You can also follow TheNiFTyInvestor on Twitter and Instagram.
4. CryptoWendyO
@cryptowendyo Bitcoin and altcoin weekly update #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #cryptowendyo #crypto #memecoins ♬ original sound – Wendy O✨
Wendy worked as a health care coordinator before she transitioned full-time into the crypto space in 2018. She provides marketing and media solutions for global crypto companies and hosts face-to-face meetups to educate people about the growing industry.
You can find more of Wendy’s content on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and her website.
5. Blockchain Boy
@theblockchainboy #CRYPTO TIER LIST! inspiration from @dantavius17 #cryptok #bitcoin #ethereum ♬ Lady – Hear Me Tonight – Modjo
Lucas is a crypto content creator better known on TikTok as Blockchain Boy. He is the co-founder of CryptoKnight.io and the business development officer for InfinityPad. His content combines the fundamentals of investing with an insider perspective on crypto, markets, and the future of technology.
You can also follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Top 5 NFT influencers on Instagram
1. Bosslogic
Kode Abdo, better known as Bosslogic, is one of the world’s leading digital artists. He has a following of more than 2 million on Instagram and produced official movie posters for some of the biggest blockbuster hits of all time, including Avengers: Endgame in 2019. He now creates physical sculptures of his artwork that get minted and sold as NFTs.
You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
2. Shavonne Wong
Shavonne is an award-winning fashion photographer based in Singapore. She is an ambassador (X-Photographer) for Fujifilm and a writer for Fstoppers—one of the largest online photographer communities. Shavonne’s signature style combines photos and videos into Living Stills and has turned several of her most successful pieces into NFTs.
You can also follow Shavonne on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Alexis Ohanian
Alexis Ohanian is the co-founder and executive chairman of Reddit. He and his wife, tennis megastar Serena Williams, have invested heavily in blockchain and boast an impressive NFT collection. On his social media channels, Alexis regularly discusses his vision for NFTs and cryptocurrencies and how to leverage them to benefit women’s sports, in particular.
You can also follow Alexis on Twitter.
4. Red Hong Yi
Red Hong Yi is a Chinese-Malaysian artist who combines digital and traditional methods to create thought-provoking themes about women and race. She also dips into the crypto space, releasing her most recent NFT series titled Memebank Banknotes late last year.
You can also follow Red Hong Yi on Twitter and Facebook.
5. Gmoney
The mysterious NFT guru known only as Gmoney captivates his audience with bold investments and tips for buying and selling NFTs and crypto. Gmoney is perhaps best known for becoming one of the anonymous identities represented in one of Larva Labs’ 24 punk apes.
You can also follow Gmoney on YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
Top 5 NFT creators on YouTube
1. GaryVee
Gary Vaynerchuk, better known as Gary Vee, is an entrepreneur and influencer known for his digital marketing and social media expertise. Some of his most successful endeavors have been in the world of sports and communications, but lately, he’s locked in on crypto. His work in the space recently landed him on Fortune’s list of the top 50 most influential people in the NFT industry.
You can also follow GaryVee on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
2. The Bitcoin Express
The Bitcoin Express gives viewers everything they need to know to become well-versed in all content related to blockchain. The channel focuses mainly on Bitcoin and alternative coins, but it does have some good videos about getting started with NFTs.
You can also follow The Bitcoin Express on Twitter and Instagram.
3. Alex Becker
Alex’s channel hosts an assortment of videos that focus on the crypto and finance, although he’s not a professional advisor, according to his disclaimer. Right now, NFTs are one of the hottest topics around, and several of Alex’s videos explains how he uses them and which ones to avoid.
Alex is also on Twitter and Instagram.
4. Brett Malinowski
Brett Malinowski calls himself the “NFT Harry Potter.” He posts educational content to give his audience the tools to navigate NFTs with confidence. Brett is passionate about the innovative NFT space and loves sharing his experiences with his followers.
You can also find Brett on Twitter.
5. DCL Blogger
Matty, also known as DCL Blogger, is a content creator and founder of the Metakey NFT project. His YouTube channel is all about NFT investing and crypto news. Matty emphasizes that NFTs are not a get-rich-quick scheme but a passion that often requires full-time work.
You can also follow Matty on Twitter.
Conclusion
Partnering with NFT creators is essential for brands looking to implement crypto and NFTs into their marketing strategies. These creators have a dedicated audience of tech-savvy followers who are already looking for the next hottest thing. But NFT influencers also break down what it means to buy and sell NFTs in a way that is easy and accessible, making your brand available to a new generation of consumers. As NFTs gain popularity, now is the perfect time to cash in on the craze.
Learn more about influencer marketing: Influencer Marketing 101
